Attending the meeting were Minister of Health and Social Welfare Klodiana Spahiu, Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro and Director of the State Social Service Reme Lala.

Parents voiced concerns over inadequate school support for children with disabilities, specifically noting the need for infrastructure like sensory corners and resource rooms. They emphasized that families are eager to collaborate with the system to build better, more supportive environments for their children.

Minister of Education Mirela Kumbaro spoke about the increase in the number of support teachers and measures to create dedicated spaces within schools.

She added that dedicated classrooms are being established in schools for instances where children require a suitable space for communication and calming down.

During the discussion, PM Rama emphasized the need to establish a training system and provide additional financial support for the special teachers.

“We need to build a training system, and secondly, we must look into the possibility of providing these teachers with extra financial support; they absolutely need to receive a bonus on top of their salary,” Rama said.

Rama also spoke about creating an advisory council that would operate through regular meetings and a structure capable of ensuring issues are flagged in a timely manner.

“Let’s organize an advisory council that meets regularly—at set intervals—and includes a ‘micro-secretariat,’ or someone who can report problems in real-time; after all, between one meeting and the next—say, three months later—something might happen that needs to be reported,” he stated. /p.s./

In a social media post, Koçiu announced that the payment for 10,700 children with disabilities up to the age of 18—including blind children—has been doubled.

Koçiu emphasized that, “Starting October 1st, social and health insurance contributions will be covered for over 14,000 caregivers and personal assistants.”

“Many parents carry an unseen daily struggle, devoting their lives to their children’s care. Every act of support matters, but the truth remains: it is never enough,” Koçiu stated.

According to Koçiu, alongside financial support, there is also being expanded the provision of services directly to families, with the aim of giving children greater opportunities for development and helping families feel more secure. “We have made progress, but there is still much to be done. The goal we have set for ourselves is clear: for every child to have greater opportunities for development, for every family to feel more secure and for services to be ever closer to them,” she emphasized.

Koçiu stated that these policies support families and vulnerable groups to build a fairer Social Albania.

“This is the Social Albania we are building: closer to the people, fairer and more attentive to those in greatest need. Step by step, doing more and leaving no one behind,” Koçiu emphasized. /p.s./

There were discussions on the barriers affecting the exercise of the right to vote, the risks of electoral corruption and mechanisms for preventing and reporting irregularities. The participants shared experiences and practices aimed at ensuring an inclusive electoral process with integrity.

During the forum, there were also presented the findings from a study on accessibility and corruption risks regarding the electoral participation of persons with disabilities, alongside recommendations for improving the institutional framework and electoral practices.

As part of preparations for the 2027 local elections, this forum served as a vital platform for strengthening inter-institutional cooperation and identifying concrete measures that contribute to an electoral process that is more accessible, transparent and inclusive for all citizens. /p.s./

Deputy Minister of Health and Social Welfare Ina Majko emphasized today that following the beginning of the new school year, support for children and their families continues through dedicated services.

“School is starting and every child deserves to feel part of it. Inclusion means support for children with disabilities, for Roma and Egyptian children and for every family in need of assistance,” Majko stated.

She highlighted that assistant teachers, psychosocial services and social support are among the mechanisms aimed at ensuring the inclusion of children in the educational process.

“More than 70,000 children participated in drafting the National Agenda for Children’s Rights 2027–2030, contributing to the definition of priorities regarding their rights and well-being. Over 5,300 children with disabilities are supported in schools, with more than 2,600 assistant teachers working alongside them,” Majko emphasized.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister Majko added more than 700 Roma and Egyptian children receive support to attend school through free transportation, scholarships and other support measures.

“Psychosocial services also play a significant role, with over 800 professionals providing support to children and their families. Furthermore, 55 services dedicated to children and families have been established across 39 municipalities, creating a support network that links the family, the school and the municipality,” she said.

According to her, every child has the right to learn, grow and feel included.

/k.s/j.p/p.s./

The tournament aimed at using the power of sport to break down physical and social barriers in a spirit of mutual respect.

The activity was organized by the Albanian National Olympic Committee, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports and the Municipality of Tirana.

Attending the event was President of the Albanian National Olympic Committee Fidel Ylli as well as many other guests, who appreciated the significance of such initiatives for the development of sport and increasing public awareness.

The tournament was held in the framework of the International Autism Awareness Day on April 2, the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6 and the Autism Awareness Month.

Organizers considered this event as an important step in preparing athletes for international events, including the 2027 Special Olympics World Games, as well as an opportunity to promote the inspiring stories of the participating athletes. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Minister of Health and Social Protection Albana Koçiu stated today that the Social Protection program aims to improve the quality of life for these citizens, by offering them not only economic assistance, but also support for social inclusion and access to specialized services.

“The 2025 budget reflects our commitment to guarantee support for 164 thousand people with disabilities. Through the 2025 budget, we continue to strengthen our policy of solidarity and care for every individual who needs support,” said Koçiu.

The minister emphasized that the effort to integrate people with disabilities in all sectors of life runs parallel to and is inseparable from the effort to build a European society.

The 2025 Budget for Health and Social Protection exceeds 1 billion euros, making it the largest budget ever for health, with a 5% increase compared to last year.

The 2025 budget also reflects a strong commitment to improving health services and social protection, guaranteeing a decent standard for all citizens. /m.m/j.p/p.s./

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Minister Manastirliu participated in an activity organized in the premises of the Palace of Congresses in Tirana, where are exhibited the works of art of children and young people with different abilities.

Manastirliu stressed that, “Albania is among the first countries in the region to implement a payment reform, which does not assess only the clinical aspect of disability.”

“We have started the reform of payments, i.e. the financial support for people with disabilities, including for the first time children 0-2 years old, who previously were not supported by the state with direct payments,” said Manastirliu.

Speaking about the financial support for people with different abilities, Manastirliu said that a doubling and tripling of the payment is guaranteed for those who attend high school or higher school, in order to be employed.

“All those who have different abilities and continue vocational courses, high school or higher school are supported with 200% of the payment or 300% of the payment so that to continue to attend the high school, or higher school or vocational training. We want to ensure that these people with different abilities can then be hired. Through the new social assistance law that we approved two years ago, we have enabled whoever works and who is a person with different abilities not to be deprived of the payment he receives from the state, precisely to meet all those needs that he has “, said Manastirliu.

Emphasizing that in the government’s policies, priority has been given not only to support with direct payments for every child and adult with different abilities, but also to the necessary social services, Manastirliu said that the Social Fund is supporting services in the territory.

Minister Manastirliu said that one of the most important objectives is to reduce bureaucracies for receiving services.

In the activity organized in the framework of the World Day of Persons with Disabilities, Minister Manastirliu said that more commitment is needed to do more for the integration of persons with disabilities in society.

There are 163,155 people with different abilities and their caretakers who benefit from the payment of disability nationwide from the state-funded social protection program./m.m/j.p/r.e/p.s./

During their stay in front of the Assembly building, they met with Prime Minister Edi Rama, who promised they will be heard by the relevant Minister on their concerns.

“Now, I cannot take you inside because I have fixed a schedule for the vaccine. The minister will be waiting for you. Let’s see what the deal is. I will tell the minister to meet you. Do not stay in the rain anymore. We will review the agreement and I believe that within a few days we shall give you the answer,” Rama said.

“Tomorrow, I will go to the USA and when I return I will talk with you again,” Rama said.

One of the people with disabilities said that, “We need to be economically independent, not to ask for alms, so, give us the opportunity to live independently”./ k.s / j.p /p.s./